Machine for making felt boots



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L. RUEL. MAOHINBFORMAKING FELT BOOTS, SHOES, &G. No. 324,340. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

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L. RUEL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FELT -BOOTS,VSEOES, &c. No.. 324,340. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.'

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L. RUBL. MACHINE POR MAKING FELT BOOTS, SHOES, &c. No. 324,340. PatentedA-ug. 11, 1885.

m "lef-P l UNrrED STATES PATENT LAURENT RUEL, OF MERRIMAO, ASSIGNOR TONVALTER M. BREVSTER, OF

GEORGETOWN,MASSACHUSETTS. v

MACHINE FORl MAKING FELT BOOTS, SHOES, 8&0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 324,340. dated .August 11, 1885.

Application filed May 12, 1884.

.To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, LAURENT RUEL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Merrimac, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement Vin Machines for Manufacturing Felt Boots, Shoes, or Stock ings, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and eXact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use t-he same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in whioh f Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a top plan view; Fig. 4, an end elevation, the reverse of Fig. 2 5. and Fig. 5 a vertical transverse section taken on line x in Fig. 8.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My -invention relates more especially to means'for holding and manipulating the former or cone on which the sliver 7 or felting material is deposited in the manufacture of felt boots, shoes, or stockings; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use. v

The nature and operation of the invention will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following eXplanation.

ln the drawings, A represents the bed or body ofthe machine; B, the table, and C the main driving-shaft. The shaft is journaled horizontally in the standards D, and carries the main gear E, pinion F, and driving-pulle G.

5A crank-shaft, H, mounted in the standards I, has its crank J connected to the table B by t-he pitman K, jointed to the bracket or arm L, and carries a gear, M, which intermeshes with the pinion F on the shaft C.

The tableB is pivoted at its rear end, N, to the hub O, projecting upwardly from the bed A, and is provided at its-'forward end with two (No model.)

small supporting-wheels, P, resting on the bed.

A shaft, Q, carrying the gear R and mitergears SS, is. mounted in proper bearings on the table B near its pivoted end N, andjour- 5-5 naled horizontally at right angles to this shaft are two shafts, T T, respectively provided at their outer ends with miter-gears U,which intermesh with the gears S on the shaft Q. The inner ends of the shafts T work in verti- 6o cally-sliding boXes (not shown) in the standards V on the tablet B, and respectively carry gears NV W, the outer ends of the shaft-s T being so arranged in the boxes a as to permit the inner ends of the same to be raised and lowered, as hereinafter described. 5

Arranged transversely on the table B, near its outer or free end, there is a hea`d stock or bed, X, its upper side being in parallelism with the table B, and provided with a sliding 7o carriage, Y.

J ournaled horizontally in the head-stock, beneath the carriage, there is a shaft, Z, carrying the gear b, which is connected with the gear R by the intermediate gears, c d, 'mountl 75 ed in the standards ef on the table B.

Disposed in the lower part of the carriage Y, and journaled therein in parallelism with the shaft Z, there is a shaft, g, provided at its center with the gear h, and at one end with ISo the gear z'. The gear h interineshes with the gear b, but does not traverse with the shaft g and carriage Y, being kept in position by the double flange or holder j, projecting from the bed X, and prevented from turning onsaid shaft by the spline k.

Mounted horizon-tally in the upper part of the carriage Y there are two rollers, ZZ, journaled in suitable boXes, each of said rollers being provided with a gear, m, which intergo meshes with the gear z' on the shaft. g. These rollers are preferably arranged on the same plane in parallelism with each other and with the shafts g Z, and are constructed substan. tially alike, being smaller at the center than g5 at the ends, or gradually tapering from either end to the center, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Pivoted to the short standards a on the table B there are two shipping-levers, p p, which project outwardly over the free end of roo the table, as shown in Fig. l, and have their inner ends respectively connected to the vcrtically-sliding boxes in which the inner ends of the shafts T rest.

A shipping-bar, q, is disposed on the outer end of the table B, being fitted to slide longitudinally in proper ways, i144, an'd provided with a downwardly projecting stud, r, at either end, designed to engage with the fixed stops t in the bed A. The bar is curved on its upper side or edge, being narrowcst at the center and widest at the ends, as seen in Fig. 2, and the levers p project over it and have their outer ends connected by the rods 2 to a horizontal lever, 3, (shown in the end view, Fig. 2,) the lever being pivoted at 4 on the front portion of the headstock X.

Attached to the rear lower edge of the carriage Y thereis a rack, 5,with which the gears W XV are alternately engaged in moving the carriage back and forth on the head-stock X.

The cone or former G, on which the sliver or felting material is deposited, is made in two sections, each section being provided with a foot-piece, 7, and lcg-piece S, the legpieces being united on the line 9, and the feet or foot pieces turned in opposite directions, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, in order to balance the cone and enable it to be manipulated in aliet ter manner. The taper of the leg pieces of the cone is designed to correspond with the taper of the rollers Z, butin an opposite direction, the cone being largest at the center and the rollers smallest at that point, so that when the cone is placed on the rollers, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be in perfect contact therewith the entire length of the rollers,`or from the ankle-pieces l0 of the cone to the center 9, the cone being longer than the rollers, and its feet projecting over the same, as shown in Fig. 2.

ln the use of my improvement the machine is placed in a convenient position to receive the sliver of felt or felting material oi' which the bat is to be formed from the card or other source of supply, the pivoted end N of the table being disposed nearest the end of the card, and the cone or former placed in position on the rollers, one end of the sliver ot' felt being wound around the cone or passed over it downwardly between it and the outer roller Z in such a manner as to be fed onto the cone properly when the machine is started up. The table B, being centrally arranged on the bed A, as shown in Fig. $3, and the crank J nearly at its lowest point, power is now applied to the pulley G, causing the pulley and gear E to turn from the rollers Z and said rollers to turn toward said gear or toward the pivoted end of the table B, as shown by the arrows, thereby giving to the cone a rotary motion opposite that of the rollers, or in a direction opposite that in which the main gear E is revolving. The shaft H continuing to revolve, the crank J will pass downwardly and cross a vertical line drawn through the center of said shaft, acting on the pitman K as it rises to swing the table B to the left, or toward that side ol` the bed marked 27 in Fig. 2. The gear XV', being at the same time engaged with the rack 5, and the gear XV disengaged therefrom, the carriageYwill be caused to traverse or move on the head-stock X in the same direction with that in which the table B moves, but at a diiierent rate of speed, or will move toward the side 27 of the bed A, while the table is moving toward the same side. When the table has traversed far enough to bring one ofthe studs 1 into contact with the stop which is on the side 27 of the bed A, the shipping-bar q will be prevented from traversing any farther with the table in that direction, causing the shipping-lever p nearest the side 27 to ride upwardly on the curved end of the shippingbar, lifting the outer end of said shipping-lever and depressing its inner end, thereby, by means of the connectinglever 3, disengaging the gear XV from the rack 5, and at the same time causing the gear W to become engaged therewith and the 1notion of the carriage Y to be reversed. Then the crank J arrives on a plane with the axial line of the shaft H, or passes the center7 on its return, the movements of the table B will also be reversed, and it will be caused to travel in the direction of the side 2S of the bed A until the crank passes said plancagain on the opposite side of its shaft. As the table moves toward the side 2S the stud r in that end of the shipping bar q which is nearest said side will strike its stop t, causing the shipping-bar to act on the shippinglevcr bring the gear W again into engagemen.. with the rack 5 and disengage the gear W, thereby reversing the movements of the carriage Y in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description.

The shippingAlevers being connected to the pivoted lever' 3 by the rods 2, it will be evilOO dent that when the bar q acts to raise one of said levers the opposite or companion lever will be correspondingly depressed, the formation ol' the upper side or edge of said bar permitting this, as shown in Fig. 2.

The teeth of the gears E 1t are rounded, as best seen in Fig. 4, to permit the table to be swung alternately to the right and left, as described, the pitman K being also loosely connected to the crank-pin of the crank J, for the same reason.

The sliver of felting as it comes from the card passes in a direct line to the cone or former mounted on the rollers Z Z, and as the cone is moved back and forth under the sliver in the are of a circle of which the pivoted end N is the center, the sliver will be crossed and recrossed on the cone in` such a manner as to greatly strengthen the fabric of the boot or other article being formed on the cone. It is, however, desirable, in order to perform the work in the best manner, that all portions of the cone should receive the layers of the sliver properly or be held in the line of its delivery to the machine a proper time as it moves back and forth under the same, Which would not be accomplished if the rollers Z Were mounted directly on the head-stock X, for the reason that when the table, swinging either to the right or left, approaches the end of its course its speed is gradually decreased until it stops, or until the crank reaches its dead-center,7 and when itl starts to return its speed is gradually increased through the first part ofits cou rse, or until the crank reaches a point midway between its dead-centers, after which it will be again gradually decreased until it reaches the opposite end of its course, and vice versa. 'Io obviate this difficulty, I make use of the carriage Y, traversing with the. head-stock, but having independent or differential movements, as herein described, Whereby the cone is kept moving under the sliver at a sufficient speed and for a sufficient distance in either direction to perform good work, even when the'table B is nearly motionless or at rest, it being obvious that the speedA of all the gears Will be uniform, Whereas in converting the rotary movements of the crank into the reciprocating movements of the table,

-the speed at which the table Will move Will vary in different paris of its course, as described.

The movements of the carriage being independent of the head-stock in so far as the same are derived from the gear E, rack 5, and the intermediate gears, it will continue to advance at its independent speed when the movements of the table are retarded vas described, so that before the table stops at the end of its course the carriage, traveling in the Vsame direction, will have passed beyond the table, or will have advanced so far as to project quite a distance over the end of the head-stock.

The shipping-bar q is preferably so constructed and the studs r and stops t so adjusted as to operate the shipping-levers and cause the movement of the carriage to be reversed immediately before the table stops at either end of its course; but the carriage may be arranged to stop coincidently with the table, and have its movement reversed at the same time or subsequently with that of the table, if preferred.

I do not conne myself strictly to the use of a cone or former having two feet or otherwise constructed as described, as a straightr cone or cone of any other suitable shape may be used With the machine Whenthe rollers are madeto conform thereto. Neither do I confine myself to the respective devices shown for causing the table and carriage to traverse, or to any special means for revolving the cone, or to the respective devices shown for reversing the movements of the table or carriage, as these features may be changed materially wit-hout entirely departing from the spirit of my invention.

Anannular groove is formed betweenrthe leg-sections 8 of the cone to serve as a guide to the shears in cutting open the bat at that point prior to removing it from the cone,

which may be readily accomplished when the cone is revolving on the rollers Z by inserting the point of one blade of the shears through the bat into the groove and severing the bat as it is revolved on the cone.

It Will be understood that after abat is formed on the cone as described it is to be removed, hardened, fulled, treed` and submitted to the other necessary processes to produce a iinished boot, shoe, or stocking, as the case may be.

The bed A may be independent ofthe floor of the room in which the machine is used, or

the iioor may be used in place of the bed, as.

preferred.

The right is herein reserved to make a bat when formed as described, and also a felt boot,

shoe, or stocking made from such a bat, the` subject-matter of other Letters Patent, and the same are not, therefore, claimed, broadly, in this specification, or when in and of l[hemselves considered.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim, is-

l. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings,the table B,carrying the carriage Y, and-rollers Z Z, in combination with operative mechanism therefor, said carriage and rollers being adapted to move longitudinally at a different speed from the table, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for making feltboots,shoes, or stockings, the rollers ZZ, provided with the gears m m, the shaft g, having the spline lo, and provided with the gears rZh, and the carriage Y, having the rack 5, in-combination with the gears W W', shaft, Z, gear b, and operative mechanism, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine for making felt boots,shoes, or stockings, the shipping-bar q,provided with the studs r r, in combination With-the stops 15` t, shipping-levers pp, gears W W', rack 5, and operative mechanism, substantially as and lfor the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, the following instrumentalities, to Wit: a cone or former for receiving the sliver or felting material from the card, a pair of rollers adapted to receiveand support the cone and give it rotary movement, a carriage in which the rollers are mounted, and a table for supporting the carriage, in combination with operative mechanism byfvvhich the table, carriage, and rollers are moved back and forth as the sliver is deposited on the cone, the longitudinal movement of the rollers not being in unison with the like movements of the table or support on which the carriage or the rollers is supported, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, a pair of rollers for supporting the cone on which the boot, shoe, or stocking is formed, said rollers being mounted in a carriage or support, and moving longitudinally in the same direction with that of the table on which the carriage is supported, and at a rate of speed which is not uniform IOC with that ot the table, substantially as described.

(i. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, the shaft II, crank J. pitman II, gear M, shaft C, gears E F, shaft Q, gears S S, shafts T T, gears U U W' W" d c, table B, and means for supporting and operating the rollers Z Z, substantially as set forth.

7. ln a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, the cone G for receiving the sliver, said cone having the leg-pieces 8 joined at 9, and provided with feet 7, projecting in opposite directions, in combination with rollers for revolving said conc, substantially as specified.

S. In a machine for making feltboots, shoes, or stockings, the carriage Y, provided with the rack .5, the rollers l, provided with the gears m., and the shaft g, provided with the gear i, in combination with means for giving said carriagelongitudinal reciprocating movements on the head-stock X, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for making felt boots, slices, or stockings, the shafts l T, each provided with a gear adapted to engage the rack 5 at regular intervals, in combination with operative mechanism, substantially as specified.

It). In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, the table B, pivoted at N, and provided with the head-stock X, carriage Y, and rollers Z Z, in combination with operative mechanism therefor, substantially as set forth.

1]. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, a cone or former for receiving the sliver or felting material from the card, in combination with means for support. ing and revolving said cone, and means for giving it longitudinal reciprocating movements in the arc of a circle, substantially as specified.

l2. A cone or former for felt boots, shoes, or stockings, having a groove, 9, to aid in cutting the bat, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, the table B, pivoted at one end and provided at its opposite end with a supporting wheel or wheels, I), in combination with a cone on which the bat is formed, means for supporting and revolving said cone, and means for producing reciprocating vibratory movements of the table in the aro of a circle, substantially as specified.

14. In a machine for making felt boots, shoes, or stockings, a table pivoted to swing in the are of a circle and so arranged that its pivoted end is nearest the card from which the sliverl is taken, said table being provided with a carriage moving differentially thereon, and carrying a cone or former, in combination with means for rotating the cone, causing the carriage to traverse and give the table movc ments, substantially as set forth.

LAURENT RUEL.

Yitnesses:

@nannies J. Bnooiis, L. J. Wurm. 

